Folding egg-case.



No 862,810. 7 PATENTE'D AUG. 6, 1907. R. E. L. CROSBY. Y FOLDING EGGCASE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18 1908 mums-$112M 1.

twenhn I Gvay 5 W m in @9626 Mag. 6

PAITENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

R. E L. CROSBY. FOLDING EGG CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c m a, .2. 2 2 7 Q Z .1. a wj E rn: NORRIS PETERS ca, wAsHmcram-n. I:.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. L. CROSBY, OF SEARGY, ARKANSAS.

FOLDING EGG-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed July 18, 1906. Serial No. 326,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. L. CROSBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Searcy, in the county of White and State of Arkansas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg-Cases, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a folding or collapsible case or package,intended and adapted particularly for the shipment of eggs; the objectof the invention being to present a case of this kind which may befolded, for reshipment, into small compass; and which, when thus folded,shall not only present a small bulk, but which shall be extremelycompact and solid, so that it may be subjected to the rough handlingusually accorded to freight of this character, safely and without dangerof breakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved metallicbinding for the parts of the case, which shall also in a measureconstitute the means whereby the parts of the case are connected, whenexpanded for the reception of the contents; said metallic binding beingthusmade to serve a double purpose in 1 not only strengthening andreinforcing the wooden parts of the case, but also constitutingconnecting means.

i A still further object of the invention is to provide an extremelysimple, durable, inexpensive and efficient means for hi'ngedlyconnecting the end members of the case with the shallow base of thelatter.

A. further object of the invention is to provide improved fastenings forsecurely locking the case in an extended, as well as in a collapsedcondition.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve thegeneral construction and operation of the class of devices to which thisinvention belongs.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved eggcase extended, and ready for shipment, containing eggs. Fig. 2 is aperspective view showing the case collapsed and in condition for returnshipment. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the case extended butwithout the lid or cover. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview showing the case extended and with the lid in position, Fig. 5 is avertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by theline 55 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewshowing the case in collapsed condition. Fig. 7 is a detail view inelevation showing a portion of one of the side members of the case. Fig.8 is a sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated in the line8-8 of Fig. 7.

\ Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference,

In the construction of the improved folding egg case there is employed abase B consisting of a bottom 1 having shallow end and side members 2,3. The end members 4, 4 of the case proper are hingedly connected withthe inner sides of the end members 2, 2; the hinges consisting of curvedor arcuate pieces of wire, such as wire nails 5, which are driven fromthe outside through the end members 2, being curved in an inward anddownward direction and permitted to pass through the bottom member 1,upon the underside of which they are clenched, as shown at 6, so as toprevent their being accidentally withdrawn. These wires or nails which,when in position, extend through approximately ninety degrees of the areof a circle, extend through arcuate perforations, as 7, in the endmembers 4, which latter may thus be conveniently raised to a standingposition, asshown for instance in Fig. 4 of the drawings, or folded downfiat upon the bottom member 1, as will be seen in Fig. 6. Two or morehinge members of the character described may be used at each end of thecase; and in this simple manner the base and the end members 4 will befirmly and effectively connected in such a manner as to enable the endmembers 4 to be conveniently adjusted in the various positionsindicated. By this simple means the more complicated and expensivehinges usually employed are dispensed with, and the construction ischeapened without detracting from its efficiency. Upon the members 4, atthe ends thereof and preferably upon the inner sides or faces of saidmembers, are placed metallic strips or cleats '8, of sheet steel, havingflanges 9 which are bent parallel to, and slightly spacedfrom, the edgesof said members. The strips or cleats 8 are provided with struckoutspurs or tongues of triangular shape, leaving the triangular open slots10; said spurs or tongues being driven through the wood of which the endmembers are composed and clenched upon the opposite sides of said endmembers, as will beseen at 11. These cleats or strips serve tostrengthen and reinforce the end membersfto keep them from warping andfrom coming apart if they should be broken; and the flanges 9 of saidcleats also serve as connections, as will presently appear.

The end members 4; 4 are sufiiciently spaced from the side members 3, 3of the base to admit of the introduction between said side members andend members of the side members 12 of the case proper; the sides 12being of a length to fit snugly between the end members 2, 2 of-thebase. The side members 12 are provided at their ends with angular stripsor reinforcing cleats 13 of sheet metal, secured upon their outer sidesor faces and abutting upon the ends or edges thereof; said angularstrips being provided with flanges 14 which are slightly spaced from theinner faces of the side members 12 so as to be capable of interlockingwith the flanges 9 of the strips 8 upon the end members 4, as will beseen very clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The strips 13 havestruck-up tongues penetrating the side members 12 and clenched upon theinner faces of the latter, as will be seen at 15.

About centrally upon the inner face of the side members 12, there aresecured vertically-disposed reinforcing strips 16 provided at theiredges with guide flanges 17, of angular shape, as shown; said stripsbeing provided with struck-out tongues 18 clenched exteriorly of theside members, as will be best seen at 19 in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Theflanges 17 are for the reception of tongues 20 formed on reinforcingstrips 21, which are mounted upon the ends or edges of a partitionmember 22 which is adapted to be mount ed detachably, by the means thusprovided, between the side members 12, 12. In this manner the sidemembers of the case are spaced and connected, and the case is divided,in the customary manner, into separate compartments for the reception ofthe cell cases in which the eggs are packed; the case being obviouslyconstructed of the usual and customary dimensions or of standard size.

By the tongues 20 of the reinforcing strips 21 engaging the guideflanges 17 of the strips 16 upon the side members 12, the said sidemembers will be prevented from expanding, or bulging outward underpressure caused by the weight of the contents of the case, and thelatter will thus be materially strengthened.

23 designates the lid or cover, which is adapted to lie flat upon theupper edges of the end members 4 and side members 12 when said end andside members have been extended to the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4and 5 of the drawings. The lid 23 is provided near its end edges withflanged reinforcing strips 24 having struck-out tongues that penetratethe lid and are clenched upon the under side of the latter; said angularstrips being bent around the end edges of the lid, as will be clearlyseen in Figs. 1 and 4. The lid is pro vided near its end edges withapertures 25 extending also through the reinforcing piece, saidapertures being for the passage of the heads 26 of nails or studs 27driven or secured in the upper edges of the end members 4. Securedpivotally upon the upper side of the lid are resilient catches 28 havingarcuate key-hole slots 29 which are approximately concentric with thepins or pivots 30, whereby the catches 28 are secured upon the lid; saidkeyhole slots being provided near their inner or narrow ends withrecesses or indentations 31, as best seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.When the lid is placed in position. upon the case, the heads 26 ofthestuds 27 will extend through the apertures 25 and project sufficientlyabove the surface of the lid to be engaged by the keyhole slots 29 ofthe catches 28; said "keyhole slots are formed in such a manner thatwhen the catches are turned to a locking position, they will strainslightly against the studs 27 until the latter, by the inherentresiliency of the parts of the case, are caused to spring into lockingengagement with the recesses or indentations 3]., thus securely lockingthe lid in position until the catches are positively forced back fromthe studs 27 sufliciently to enable them to be turned to an unlockedposition. If preferred, in order to open the case, the nails or studs 27may be withdrawn by the use of an ordinary claw hammer or other suitabletool, and subsequently redriven. 7

.Upon the upper edges of the side members 3 of the base are securedlocking strips or keepers 33 adapted to be engaged by the catches 28when the case is collapsed, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When thecase is in this condition, as has also been illustrated in Fig. 6, theend members 4, 4 arefolded down flat upon the bottom of the base, andthe partition 22 and the side members 12, 12 are also packed in thelatter, as clearly seen in Fig. 6; the lid 23 is then inserted into thebase, fitting snugly between the side and end members of the latter, andthe catches 28 may then be readily turned into locking engagement withthe strips or keepers 33, thus securing all the parts together in asolid and compact package. It is to be understood that the empty cellcases may be folded and packed in the vacant spaces between the parts ofthe case when the latter is folded or collapsed; but they have not beenshown inasmuch as they form no part of the present invention. The baseof the device has been illustrated as being reinforced by means ofmetallic corner clamps 35; and the end members 4, 4 of the case areprovided with recesses 36 forming hand holds.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.The construction of the complete case is simple and comparativelyinexpensive; the metallic reinforcing members being manufactured andapplied by special machinery of simple construction whereby the cost ofproduction is minimized. In extending the case, the side members 12, 12are placed in position upright between the edges of the end members 4-4and the side walls of the base, while the end members are still foldedupon the bottom of the latter; care being taken to interlock the flanges9 and 14 at the engaging corners so that when the end members 4, 4 areraised to the upright position shown in Fig. 4, the said flanges willinterlock throughout their lengths. The partition 22 is now slid intoposition, said partition member serving to space and connect and thusalso to brace and reinforce the side members 12, 12. The cell cases arenext placed in position in the compartments of the case and filled witheggs, after which the lid is applied; said lid serving obviously toprevent any possibility of collapsing of the case.

An important advantage resulting from the construction of the case, asherein described, is, that by first removing the lid, one of the sidemembers 12 may be bodily removed, thus enabling the eggs to be removedin entire tiers or layers for the purpose of handling, thus effecting agreat convenience and saving of time. When the case is collapsed it isextremely compact and solid, and may consequently be stored incomparatively small space, this being obviously of importance toWarehouse men and Wholesalers who are compelled, for the convenience oftheir customers, to keep large numbers of cases on hand.

The improved case, generally speaking, is light, durable, and thoroughlyefficient for the purposes for which it is provided.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding case, a base, end members hingedly connected with saidbase and having locking flanges spaced from the side edges thereof, sidemembers adapted to fit in the base adjacent to the side edges of the endmembers and provided with locking flanges adapted for interengagementwith the locking flanges of the side members, vertical reinforcingstrips upon the inner faces of the side members having angular guideflanges at the edges thereof, and a detachable partition member providedat its edges with reinforcing strips formed with tongues adapted forinterengagement with the guide flanges of the strips upon the sidemembers thereby preventing the sides of the case from expanding orbulging outward.

2. A folding case of the character described, comprising a base, endmembers hingedly connected with the base, side members having slidableconnection with the end members, a lid adapted to rest upon the upperedges of the side and end members when the case is extended and to fitwithin the base when the case is collapsed, headed studs at the 'upperedges of the end members, catches pivoted upon the lid and havingarcuate keyhole slots for engagement with the studs when the case isextended, and locking strips or keepers upon the upper edges of the baseand adapted for locking engagement with the pivoted catches when thecase is collapsed.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. L. CROSBY. Witnesses Gnlrx'r GREEN, E. A. ROBBINS.

